Terminal for a meter socket



ed July 17, 1961 I w W IIIWW I 3849 v 2 1 i I July 13, 1965 c. E. SLOOPTERMINAL FOR A METER SOCKET 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 1'7, 1961INVENTOR. Clifford E. Sloop BY 5 E l A TTOHNE Y United States Patent3,195,099 TERMEIAL son A METER QCKET Cliiinrd E. Sioop, 2230 16th St,@flllilllbilS, Ga. Filed July 17, 3361, Ser. No. 124,730 8 Claims. (Ell.339-113) This invention relates to a terminal for a meter socket and ismore particularly concerned with a cap for the terminal of a metersocket.

In the past, both U-shaped terminals and V-shaped terminals have beendevised. The U-shaped terminal has a cradle or lower jaw with parallelside walls and a concaved lower portion which has a greater radius thanthe radius of the conductor which it receives. The conductor is urgedagainst the lower part of the concave portion of the cradle by means ofa foot carried by the end of a set screw. The set screw, in turn, iscarried by a bracket, the bracket, set screw and foot forming the cap ofthe terminal. Since the side walls are esesntially paraliel in theU-shaped terminal, there is little danger of the foot becoming canted ormisaligned with the side walls.

The V-shaped terminal which resulted from the requirement for additionalarea contacting the end of the conductor, when the terminals aremanufactured of say aluminum rather than copper, has a smaller 'concavedbottom portion and converging walls which merge with the bottom portion.The V-shaped terminal has essentially the same foot, set screw andbracket as the U-shaped terminal; however, because of the converginginner walls of the V-shaped terminal, the foot of this type terminalvery often becomes twisted or canted. In other words, the pressure footmay be in many radial positions, other than proper alignment, when thecap is installed, or may become misaligned as the set screw is tightenedwhereby one end of the pressure foot extends over the short or out endof the cradle or lower jaw of the terminal.

The electrician cannot readily determine that the foot of the V-shapedterminal has become twisted or canted since the bracket of the capnormally hides the foot from the electrician. Thus, the electrician,tightening the set screw sufiiciently for the inner end or" the foot tocontact the conductor, does not realize that the foot is not applyingsuliicient pressure to the terminal to assure adequate current transfer.In many instances, it is also impossible to feel beneath the bracket anddetermine whether proper contact has been made by the pressure foot.With insutficient pressure being applied by the jaws of the terminal, iethe cradle and the pressure foot, to the conductor, it is apparent thatthis junction has lllSllffiClfilli capacity whereby a substantialvoltage drop occurs between the conductor and the terminal, therebyresulting in the generation of heat at the terminal and perhaps somearcing. Both the generation or" heat and the arcing are dangerous andmay cause a fire hazard. In addition, both heat and arcing may causesevere damage to the terminal and the remaining portion of the metersocket. Further, in some instances the meter itself may become damaged.If failure resulting from improper seating of the pressure foot does notoccur within the first few days of use with the continued generationotheat, failure will probably occur after the meter socket has been inuse for one or two years. In many instances, before the trouble isdiscovered, the wires or conductors have become annealed to such anextent that they must be withdrawn from service and the terminals havebeen burned suiticiently that they must be replaced. Thus, service mustbe interrupted and costly replacements made.

It is to be noted that in a single phase meter box there are sixterminals and in a three phase meter box there are eight terminals, anyone of which if detectively Ziflhhfidh Patented July 13, 1965 connectedto its conductor will cause the trouble described above.

When a meter is removed from an installed meter socket, it is oftendesirable to provide a secondary circuit to conduct the electricity fromthe line to the installation. This secondary circuit requires additionalclamps which may or may not be provided with the initial installation ofthe meter socket. Conventionally, these additional clamps take the formof permanently secured terminals attached to the block. Thus, if suchclamps are required and are not. present in the meter socket, it isnecessary to install new terminals or in some instances an entire newblock which carries the terminals. Such an arrangement is expensive andrequires considerable time.

Briefly, the present invention, which overcomes the disadvantagesdescribed above, includes a cap for the terminal or" the meter socket.This cap or upper jaw includes the usual mounting bracket which fits onor over the outer portion of the cradle or lower or inner jaw of theterminal. A threaded set screw threadedly protrudes through the bracketand a swivelly mounted foot on the end of the set screw urges theconductor against the concaved portion of the cradle of the V-shapedterminal. According to the present invention, a guide is providedbetween the foot and the bracket so that the foot is maintained in axialalignment with the bracket at all times and may be freely and readilymoved toward and away from the concaved portion of the cradle withoutdanger of the foot becoming canted or twisted within the cradle. Inaddition, the guide, in some embodiments of the present invention,provides a visual means by which the position of the foot may beascertained by the electrician. In some embodiments a secondary terminalsuch as a clamp or spade is carried by the bracket or foot whereby asecondary circuit may readily be installed if desired.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a capfor a terminal of a meter socket which is inexpensive to manufacture,durable in construction and efilcient in operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cap for theterminal of a meter socket, which cap will insure the proper seating ofits pressure toot against the conductor received by the terminal.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cap for theterminal of a meter socket, which cap will provide a visual indicationof the position of the foot of the cap.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cap for theterminal of a meter socket having a conductor clamp, the cap beingreadily installed and removed from a conventional cradle of the terminalof a meter socket.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cap which isadapted to be connected to the conductor within a terminal, the caphaving adequate capacity to conduct current to or from a secondarycircuit and a convenient means by which such circuit is established.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following de scription when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters ofreference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a meter box and meter, the coverof the meter box being partially broken away to show the meter socketand the terminals thereof receiving the caps constructed in accordancewith the present invention.

FlG. 2 is a partially broken, side elevational view of one of theterminals of the meter box illustrated in FIG. 1.

'with the concaved bottom surface 30 of the cradle.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a cap constructed in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG. 4 and showing thepressure foot in its lowered position.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional View similar to FIG. 5 and illustrating amodified form of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIGS. 5 and 6 and illustrating anothermodification of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 and illustrating stillanother modification of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view similar to FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8' andillustrating still another modification of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIGS. 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 and illustratingstill another modified form of the present invention. 7

Referring now in detail to the embodiments chosen for the purpose ofillustrating the present invention, it being understood that in itsbroader aspects the present invention is not limited to the exactdetails herein de picted, numeral denotes generally a meter box having acover 21 and receiving a meter 22. This conventional meter box 20contains, mounted to the back wall 23 thereof, the usual meter socketwhich includes a terminal block 24 carrying the usual spade receivingjaws 25 mounted in electricalfcontact with the terminals, 'denotedgenerally by numeral 26 for receiving the spades or blades (not shown)of the meter 22.

Each terminal '26 includes a V-shaped cradle or lower or inner jaw 27having converging inwardly and downwardly protruding side walls 28 and29 which merge The the walls 23 and 29 of the cradle 27, before theguide member clears the bracket 32.

As will be seen in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, the guide member in thisparticular embodiment includes a guide finger having a laterallyextending base 50 which is approximately parallel to the lower surfaceof plate 33, the base 50 protruding beyond the side '51 of plate 33 andterminating in an upstanding or outwardly extending guide plate 52 whichis essentially perpendicular to base 5% and extends parallel to 'andoutwardly adjacent the side '51. The guide plate'52 is about the widthof the thickness of plate 33 and is greater in length than the axialdistance between edges 44 and the end 47, when the foot 4% is in itsmost retracted position as illustrate-d in FIG. 4. Therefore, until thefoot 40 has been moved inwardly or downwardly by a distance sufficientto position the edges 43 and 44 Within and adjacent the side walls 23and 29, at least a portion of theguide plate 52 remains within the planeof the plate 33. Thus, the foot 4% is guided throughout its inwardtravel, the foot 4% being guided by guide-plate 52 during the firstportion of its inward travel and being guided by the sides 28 and 29during the latter part of its inward travel.

As'seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the plate 34 is provided at its innermostend with a mounting base 611, the mounta ing base (iii extendingoutwardly of plate 34, essentially cradle 27 is thereby adapted toreceive the end of a wire,

cable or conduct-or 31, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the conductor 31 beingshown in broken lines.

The cap of each terminal includes an L-shaped bracket or jaw 32 having aset screw carrying plate 33 and an inwardly protruding plate 34essentially perpendicular to each other and integrally joined along acommon edge. The central portion ofthe set screw carrying plate 33 isprovided with an internally threaded hole 35 which threadedly receives aset screw 36, the set screw 36 being provided with external threadswhich engage the internal threads of hole 35. The set screw 36 has ahead 37 which may be hexagonal and/ or may contain a kerf 38 by meansofwhich the screw 36 is adjusted within the hole 35..

At the inner end of screw 36 is a pin 39, the lower end of whichpivotally or swivelly'receives a rectangular, downwardly curved pressurefoot 40. The length of foot 41) is less than the length of plate 33 andthe width of foot 40 is less than the width of plate 33 so that foot 40i essentially hidden by plate 33 when the cap is installed. The setscrew 36 is free to pivot while the foot 46) remains facing the samedirection and is therefore either raised or lowered by the rotation ofscrew 36.

The plate 34 has a relatively wide central slot 41 for receiving theouter lip 46 of the terminal cradle 27, as the inner edge of the plate33 is received within a transverse slot 42 of the cradle 27, the upperend 47 of the outer portion of cradle 27 terminating below slot 41 sothat the foot 40 may clear the cradle as the cap is installed. j

The elements thus far described are essentially conventional. Accordingto the present invention, a guide member is provided on or connected tothe foot 46 for cooperation with the bracket 32 so as to maintain thefoot 40 in its normal position during at least the first parallel to andspaced inwardly from the plate 33. The base 69 also extends in anopposite direction from the direction in which the plate 33 extends.base as is smaller than the plates 33 or 34 but is sufiiciently large toreceive a take-off terminal or clamp denoted enerally by numeral 61. Inthe present embodiment, the take-01f terminal 61 include a hollow,rectangular tubular member which is secured by means of brad 62 to base66. The upper side of clamp 61 is provided with a hole 63 for receivingthe set screw 64 which is adapted to clamp a piece of wire within thehollow tubular member 65 of the clamp 61. The sides of the member 65extend essentially parallel to the plate 34 while the upper surface ofthe clamp 61is essentially parallel to the upper surface of plate 33.

In'the embodiment of FIG. 6, the cap includes the conventional bracket132 having plates 13:3 and 134, similar to bracket 32 and its plates 33and 34, and the cradle 127 being similar to cradle 27. The set screw 136is similar to set screw 3d, while the foot 140 is similar to foot 40.According to this embodiment, the base 154) protrudes laterally from thefoot 141 and is provided with a flange member which includes anupstanding or outwardly protruding guide plate 152 which extendsoutWard-ly parallel to the side 151 of plate 133. The plate 152 servesthe same purpose as plate 52 of the previous embodiment. The flange alsoincludes angularly extending contact plate or spade 161 which is adaptedto receive a jaw terminal (not shown) of a secondary circuit, as. willbe understood by those skilled in the art.

In F18. 7, the modification includes the cap having a bracket 232 withthe plates 233 and 234 similar to plates 33 and 34, the plate 233receiving the set screw 236. The set screw 236 is provided with pressurefoot 240 which is adapted to cooperate with the cradle 227 in the mannerin which the pressure foot 40 cooperates with the cradle 2'7. Accordingtothe present modification, the base 251) protrudes laterally from thefoot 240, beyond the outer edge 251 of the plate 233. This base 250 ispro- 7 vided with a tubular clamping member 261, the clampperiod' of thedownward movement of thefoot 40 toa ward the concaved surface 39. Theguide member is sufiiciently long that the opposite edges 43 and 44 ofthe rectangular concaved foot are within the confines of ing member 261being rectangular in cross section and open at both ends, such as thetubular member or clamp 61. The tubular member 261 is provided with aset screw 26% similar to set screw 64. According to this modification,the inner surface of the inner side 252 of the tubular member 261provides an upstanding flange or plate which rides adjacent the side 251of plate 233 so as to provide a guide for the foot 240. a r VPreferably, the i In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the cap includesthe bracket 332 which comprises the plates 333 and 334 similar to plates33 and 34. The plate 333 receives the set screw 336, the set screwcarrying at its lower end the pressure foot 340. The bracket 332cooperates with the cradle 327 in the manner in which the bracket 32cooperates with the cradle 37 According to the present modification, thebase 350 protrudes from one end of the pressure foot 340, the base 350extending parallel to, below and beyond the lower surface of plate 333.The end of base 350 is provided with outwardly protruding angularlydisposed contact plate or spade 361 which has a use and function similarto the use and function of the contact plate 161.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9, the cap includes a bracket 4-32having plates 433 and 434, similar to the bracket 32. The plate 433carries the set screw 436, the set screw 436 carrying at its lower endthe pressure foot 440 for cooperation with the cradle 427 in the mannerin which the pressure foot 40 cooperates with cradle 27. In the presentembodiment, the pressure foot 449 is provided at its opposite ends withbases 450 which protrude parallel to and below the plate 433, the bases450 extending beyond the opposed sides 451 of plate 33, therebyproviding extensions to the pressure foot 449, each base 450 beingsufficiently long that the distance from the outer edge of each base 458to the center of the pressure foot 440 is greater than the distance fromthe inner surface of plate 434 to the center of pressure foot 440. Undersuch conditions, it is impossible for the pressure foot 440 to rotate soas to arrange its end transverse 1y or in engagement with the innersurface of plate 434.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 10, the cap includes a bracket 532having a plate 533 and a plate 534 similar to the plates 33 and 34 ofthe previous embodiment. The set screw S36 is carried by plate 533 and,in turn, carries the pressure foot 546 so as to cooperate with thecradle 527. In this embodiment, an upstanding pin 551 on the outersurface of a pressure foot 540 is adapted to register with or bereceived in a circular hole 552 in plate 533, the upstanding pin 551being parallel to the axis of the set screw 536 and in alignment withthe hole 552. By being received in the hole 552, the pin 551 acts as aguide to maintain the pressure foot 54% in alignment as the screw 53d isrotated for raising or lowering the pressure foot 540.

Operation From the foregoing description, the operation of the presentdevice should be apparent. When the meter box is installed on a wall, orotherwise installed, the cables, such as conduit or conductor 31, areled into the box 20 in the usual way so as to be received in theterminals 26, the end of the conductors, such as conductor 31, lyingwithin the cradle 27 of each terminal 26, whereby an uninsulated portionof the conductor 31 protrudes on either side of the cradle 27.Thereafter, the cap is installed on cradle 27 so that the end of plate33 is received in its groove 42 as the slot 41 receives the protrudinglip 46 of the cradle 27. When the cap is being installed, the set screw36 is in its retracted position so that the foot 40 is essentiallyagainst or adjacent to the lower surface of plate 33, as illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 4. The set screw 36 is then tightened so as to lower thepressure foot 4% against the top portion or top periphery of the exposedcable or conductor 31, thereby urging the lower periphery or lowerportion of the conductor 31 against the lower concaved surface of thecradle 27.

As the foot 4% is lowered, it is guided in its movement downwardly bythe plate 52 and the side 51 of the cap, plate 52 providing a visualindication of the position of foot 40. Thus, it is impossible for thefoot 40 to become misaligned until the plate 52 clears the side 51. Theplate 52, however, is sumciently long that when it clears the side 51,the edges 43 and 44 of the foot are within the confines of theconverging sides 28 and 29 and hence the danger of misalignment of thefoot 40 no longer exists.

In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the plate 152 serves the same purpose asplate 52 and hence no detailed description of the operation of thisembodiment is required. Likewise, the side 251 of the embodiment shownin FIG. 7 serves the same function as the plate 52 and hence no detaileddescription of the operation of this embodiment is required.

With respect to the embodiments of FIGS. 8 and 9, it will be seen thatthe base 350 and the flange or spade 361 provide a visual indication ofthe position of the feet 340 and 440 and therefore the electrician willbe capable of determining when the foot is properly aligned. Further,the base 350, the spade 361 and the bases 45% protrude sufi'icientlybeyond the outer edges of the brackets 332 and 432 that no appreciablemisalignment of the feet 346 and 440 will occur, the bases 35% and 456)engaging the side wall 29. at its outer edges or against the outer edgesof plate 34 if any misalignment occurs.

With respect to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 10, it will be seenthat upon the rotation of set screw 536 the foot 54% is maintained inproper alignment by the pin 551 riding within the slot or hole 552.Thus, the pin 551 serves the same function as the plate 52 of theprevious embodiment.

With respect to the secondary circuit clamps, such as clamp 61 and 261,it any circuit needs to be established from any of the terminals 26, awire or conductor (not shown) is inserted within the hollow tubularmember such as member of the clamp 61 or 261 and the set screw 64 or 264is thereafter tightened against the wire so as to hold it in position.In those prior art constructions which have conventional caps similar tothe cap of the present invention, the cap of the present invention needonly be substituted for the existing cap in order to establish a clampfor the secondary circuit. This may be easily and quickly accomplished,without appreciable cost. If a spade type secondary clamp is required,the embodiments of FIGS. 6 and 8 may be employed, whereby the spades 161and 361 serve to receive jaws (not shown) of the secondary circuits.

It is therefore seen that with the particular construction heredisclosed, the clamps 61, and 261 and the spades 161 and 361 have a dualpath of supply for current. This dual supply is from the cradle 27 andfrom the properly positioned pressure foot, such as foot 40. Thepressure foot 40, being in direct contact with conductor 31, suppliesthe clamp 61 with current via screw 35 and bracket 32. Usually smallcurrents are involved in the secondary circuit and therefore theconnection is suificient.

The spades 161 and 361 are used primarily to provide convenientterminals for temporary connections.

The advantages of the device of FIG. 9 is that the bases 55i provideadditional contacting area for the foot 5% while providing a visualindication of the position of the foot 540.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many variations maybe made in the embodiments here chosen for the purpose of illustratingthe present invention with; out departing from the scope thereof asdefined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a meter socket including a box having enclosed sides, an enclosedback, and a removable cover to close the front of said box, a terminalblock mounted on said back, and a plurality of terminals for receivingconductors, said terminals being of the class having a pair of jawsincluding a cradle with opposed, downwardly converging side walls and aconcaved bottom surface merging with said side walls, and a removablecap forming an upper jaw, said cap comprising a bracket received on saidcradle, a set screw protruding through and threadedly engagingsaidbracket, and a foot pivotally carried by the end of said set screwand adapted to be moved between said side walls toward and away fromsaid bottom surface of said cradle upon rotation of said set screw forcooperating with said bottom surface when moved toward said bottomsurface to clamp a conductor therebetween, said foot being hidden bysaid bracket when said bracket is viewed from a side opposite said foot,the combination therewith of a guide mounted on said foot in spacedrelationship with respect to said set screw for maintaining said foot inproper orientation for moving between said side Walls when saidsetrscrew is rotated, said, guide extending outwardly from said foot andbeing engageable upon appreciable rotation of said foot with a portionof one of said jaws, said guide being visible when said cap is viewedfrom said opposite side.

2. In a meter socket including a box having enclosed sides, an enclosedback, and a removable cover to close the front of said box, a terminalblock mounted on said back, and a plurality of terminals forreceivingconductors, said terminals being of the class having a pair ofjaws including a cradle with opposed, downwardly converging side wallsand a concaved bottom surface merg ing with said side walls, and aremovable capforming an upper jaw, said cap comprising a bracketreceived on said cradle, a set screw protruding through and threadedlyengaging said bracket, and a foot pivotally carried by the end of saidset screw and adapted to be i moved between said side walls toward andaway from said bottom surface of said cradle upon rotation of said setscrew for cooperating with said bottom surface when moved toward saidbottom surface to clamp a conductor therebetween, the combinationtherewith of a guide mounted on said foot in spaced relationship withrespect to said set screw for maintaining said foot in properorientation for moving between said side walls when said set screw isrotated, said guide extending outwardly from said foot approximatelyparallel to said set screw, said guide being engageable upon appreciablerotation of said foot with a portion of said bracket.

3. In a meter socket including a box having enclosed sides, an enclosedback, and a removable cover to close the front of said box, a terminalblock mounted on said back, and a plurality of terminals for receivingconductors, said terminals being of the class having a pair of jawsincluding a cradle with opposed, downwardly converging side walls and aconcaved bottom surface merging with said side walls, and a removablecap forming an upper jaw, said cap comprising a bracket received on saidcradle, a set screw protruding through and threadedly engaging saidbracket, and a foot pivotallyv carried by the end of said set screw andadapted to be moved between said side walls toward and away from saidbottom surface of saidcradle upon rotation of said set screw forcooperating with said bottom surface when moved toward said bottomsurface toclamp a conductor therebetween, the combination therewith of aguide mounted on said foot in spaced relationship with respect to saidset screw for maintaining. said foot in proper orientation for movingbetween said side walls when said set screw is rotated, said guideextending outwardly from said footapproximately parallel to said setscrew, said guide being engageable upon appreciable rotation of saidfoot with a portion of said bracket, and a secondary terminal mounted onsaid cap adjacent said bracket for providing a contact for a secondarycircuit.

4. In a meter socket including a box having enclose sides, an enclosedback, and a removable cover to close the front of said box, a terminalblock mounted on said back, and a plurality of terminals for receivingconductors, said terminals being of the class having a pair of jawsincluding a cradle with opposed, downwardly converging side walls and aconcaved bottom surface merging with said side Walls, and a removablecap forming an upper jaw, said cap comprising a bracket received on saidcradle, a set screw protruding through and threadedly engaging saidbracket, and a foot pivotally carried by the end of said set screw andadapted to be moved between said side walls toward and away from saidbottom surface of said cradle upon rotation of said set screw forcooperating with said bottom surface when moved toward said bottomsurface to clamp a conductor therebetween, the combination therewith ofa guide mounted on the end portion of said foot in spaced parallelrelationship with respect to said set screw for maintaining said foot inproper orientation for moving between said side walls when said setscrew is rotated, said guide being engageable upon any appreciablerotation of said foot with a portion of said bracket when said foot isin a retracted position adjacent said bracket.

5. In a metersocket including a box having enclosed sides, an enclosedback, a removable cover to close the front of said box, a terminal blockmounted on said back,

and a plurality of terminals for receiving conductors, said terminalsbeing of the class having a pair of jawstincluding a cradletwithopposed, downwardly conveying side walls and a concaved bottom surfacemerging with said side walls, and a removable" cap forming an upper jaw,

said cap. comprising a bracket received on said cradle, 21 set screwprotruding through and threadedly engaging said bracket, and a footpivotally carried by the end of said set screw and adapted to be movedbetween said side walls toward and away from said bottom surface of saidcradle upon. rotation of said set screw for cooperating with said bottomsurface when moved toward said bottom surface to clamp a conductortherebetween, the combination therewith of a guide mounted on said foot,said guide including a base extending from the end of said foot, and'aplate extending adjacent the side of said bracket for maintaining saidfoot in proper orientation for moving between said side walls when saidset screw is rotated, said plate extending outwardly from said footabout parallel to said set screw and being engageable upon anyappreciable rotation of said foot with'said side of said bracket. V

6. In a meter socket including a box having enclosed sides, an enclosedback, a. removable cover to close the front of said box, a terminalblock mounted on said back, and a plurality of terminals for receivingconductors, said terminalsbeing of the class having a pair of jawsincluding a cradle with opposed, downwardly converging side walls and aconcaved bottom surface merging with said side walls, and a removablecap forming an upper jaw, said cap comprising a bracket received on saidcradle, a set screw protruding through and threadedly engaging a saidbracket, and a foot pivotally carried by the end of said set screw andadapted to be moved'between said side Walls toward and away from saidbottom surface of said cradle upon rotation of said set screw forcooperating with said bottom surface when moved toward said bottomsurface to clamp a conductor therebetween, the combination therewith ofa guide pin-mounted on said foot in spaced parallel relationship withrespect to said set screw for maintaining said foot in properorientation'for moving between'said side walls when said set screw isrotated, said bracket being provided with a hole, said guide pinextending outwardly from said foot and being projectable through saidhole when said foot is retracted toward said bracket.

7. In a meter box of the class having aback wall and side walls definingan open front rectangular member, a removable cover for closing the openfront of said memher, said cover being in spaced relationship to saidback wall, a terminal block carried by said back wall between said backwall and said cover, and spade-receiving jaws carried by said terminalblock, the combination therewith of a plurality of terminals carried bysaid terminal block and electrically connected respectively to saidspade receiving jaws, said terminals having cooperating pairs of jawsextending toward the corners of said memher and providingconductor-receiving areas between respective pairs of jaw-s, each pairof cooperating jaws including a cradle with opposed downwardlyconverging side walls and a concaved bottom surface merging with saidside walls, and a removable cap forming an upper jaw, said capcomprising a bracket received on said cradle, a set screw protrudingthrough and threadedly engaging said bracket, and a foot pivotallycarried by the end of said set screw and adapted to be moved betweensaid side walls toward and away from said bottom surface of said cradleupon rotation of said set screw for cooperating with said bottom surfacewhen moved toward said bottom surface to clamp a conductor therebetween,said foot being hidden from view through said open front by saidbracket, a guide mounted on said foot in spaced relationship withrespect to said set screw for maintaining said foot in properorientation for moving between said side walls when said set screw isrotated, said guide extending outwardly from said foot and beingengageable upon appreciable rotation of said foot with a portion of oneof said jaws, said guide being visible through the open front of saidmember.

3. The structure defined in claim 7 including a secondary terminalcarried by each above mentioned terminal,

said secondary terminal defining a conduit receiving area parallel tothe conduit receiving area of said above mentioned terminal.

References Qited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 970,087 9/10Murray 339-272 1,642,345 9/27 Telford 339--272 2,120,447 6/38 Tipsford339-264 2,147,160 2/39 Hagist et a1. 339-272 2,715,700 3/55 Rothstein eta1. 339-272 2,774,953 12/56 Trier 339272 2,780,793 2/57 Gambale 339-2722,825,879 3/58 Moore 339272 X 2,949,597 8/60 Nerlich 339272 3,113,82212/63 Sorfiaten 339-272 FOREIGN PATENTS 380,049 9/23 Germany.

370,109 4/32 Great Britain.

512,701 9/39 Great Britain.

751,552 6/56 Great Britain.

833,291 4/60 Great Britain.

25 JOSEPH D. SEERS, Primary Examiner.

4. IN A METER SOCKET INCLUDING A BOX HAVING ENCLOSED SIDES, AN ENCLOSEDBACK, AND A REMOVABLE COVER TO CLOSE THE FRONT OF SAID BOX, A TERMINALBLOCK MOUNTED ON SAID BACK, AND A PLURALITY OF TERMINALS FOR RECEIVINGCONDUCTORS, SAID TERMINALS BEING OF THE CLASS HAVING A PAIR OF JAWSINCLUDING A CRADLE WITH OPPOSED, DOWNWARDLY CONVERGING SIDE WALLS AND ACONCAVED BOTTOM SURFACE MERGING WITH SAID SIDE WALLS, AND A REMOVABLECAP FORMING AN UPPER JAW, SAID CAP COMPRISING A BRACKET RECEIVED ON SAIDCRADLE, A SET SCREW PROTRUDING THROUGH AND THREADEDLY ENGAGING SAIDBRACKET, AND A FOOT PIVOTALLY CARRIED BY THE END OF SAID SET SCREW ANDADAPTED TO BE MOVED BETWEEN SAID SIDE WALLS TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAIDBOTTOM SURFACE OF SAID CRADLE UPON ROTATION OF SAID SET SCREW FORCOOPERATING WITH SAID BOTTOM SURFACE WHEN MOVE TOWARD SAID BOTTOMSURFACE TO CLAMP A CONDUCTOR THEREBETWEEN, THE COMBINATION THEREWITH OFA GUIDE MOUNTED ON THE END PORTION OF SAID FOOT IN SPACED PARALLELRELATIONSHIP WITH RESPECT TO SAID SET SCREW FOR MAINTAINING SAID FOOT INPROPER ORIENTATION FOR MOVING BETWEEN SAID SIDE WALLS WHEN SAID SETSCREW IS ROTATED, SAID GUIDE BEING ENGAGEABLE UPON ANY APPRECIABLEROTATION OF SAID FOOT WITH A PORTION OF SAID BRACKET WHEN SAID FOOT ISIN A RETRACTED POSITION ADJACENT SAID BRACKET.